Canadian actor Olunike Adeliyi is back making waves at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) this year.
The Toronto native and Workin’ Moms actor stars in Village Keeper premiering at TIFF on Sept. 11, and The Fire Inside, premiering on Sept. 7.
“It feels like the long journey was worth it…It’s every actor’s dream to be a part of TIFF,” she said, expressing her gratitude at having two of her films being screened at the festival.
In Village Keeper, making its world premiere at the festival, Adeliyi portrays Jean, a Caribbean mother of two teenagers living reluctantly with her own mother in a crowded apartment complex in Toronto’s Lawrence Heights neighbourhood.
The story explores Jean’s struggle with her past and present while coming to terms with her children’s growing independence and her own challenges in supporting them.
Adeliyi says that her choice of roles often reflects her personal growth. “I usually find that the films that I accept are usually aligned with what I need to learn myself, in that moment,” she added.
She says during that time she was also helping to take care of her father, who was “quite sick at that time,” while also taking care of her mother who was going through a process of having to get surgery and rehabilitate.
“It was just the weight of taking care of ageing parents that nobody prepares you for…I thought it was important to put it into character work,” she added.
She also chose the role because of the film’s focus on community and mental health, especially within the Black community.
“Mental health in the Black community can go unnoticed when we don’t necessarily have the tools in order to access therapy or anything that helps towards mental wellness,” she said, while highlighting the need for community education and collective effort to address these challenges effectively.
She also pointed out that these themes resonate deeply with her own life. “I’m constantly making sure that my self is aligned,” she added.
Adeliyi praised Toronto-based director Karen Chapman and cinematographer Jordan Oram—famous for his work on Drake’s music video for “God’s Plan”— for their commitment to portraying the story “truthfully” and avoiding stereotypes in the film.
@nowtoronto Toronto’s own @olunike.adeliyi takes centre stage with 'Village Keeper,' a film about mental health in the Black community, set in the city's Lawrence Heights neighbourhood. Catch its world premiere at @TIFF_NET on Sept. 11! #TIFF24 ♬ original sound – Now Toronto
While the movie delves into these important themes, it also captures the vibrant Caribbean community in Toronto.
“Communities are joyful,” she said, referring to both the Caribbean community and Toronto. “We’ve got music, food, and dance, all of which is all incorporated in the film as well…Toronto is a very joyful community as well. So, we didn’t want to leave any of that out so that anyone can identify themselves within, within the film.”
While Adeliyi is grateful for having two premieres at TIFF this season, she fondly remembers her role in Workin’ Moms as Giselle Bois which brought her fame, and support from fans worldwide.
“It’s so insane that this beautiful show from Toronto has made me globally recognized,” she added.
TIFF will be running from Sept. 5 and 15, and tickets are available here.
